University Communication

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Houston Clean Air Network Offering Real-Time Online Ozone ReportsUH, American Lung Association and Air Alliance Houston Partnering on New Website

August 17, 2012-Houston-

The extreme Texas heat often keeps Houstonians from heading
to the park or taking an afternoon jog. Sometimes, however, they’re dissuaded
from outdoor activities due to poor air quality.

Now, residents
of the greater Houston area can track ozone levels through the Houston Clean
Air Network. Sponsored by a three-year $450,000 grant from Houston Endowment, this
website (http://houstoncleanairnetwork.org) provides real-time air quality
updates using maps of the region. It was
developed by University of Houston professors in partnership with the American
Lung Association of the Plains-Gulf Region and Air Alliance Houston.

UH is hosting a media preview from 11:30 a.m. –
1 p.m., Aug. 20 at the university’s Honors College Commons (second floor of the
M.D. Anderson Library). Computer terminals will be available to allow users to
explore Houston Clean Air Network, and the site’s air quality map will be
projected on a large screen. Local medical professionals, environmental experts
and representatives from the three partnering organizations will be in
attendance. The Honors College Commons can be accessed through Entrance 1 off
Calhoun Road.

When users visit the Houston Clean Air Network,
they are greeted with educational content that defines the ozone and its effect
on the human body. The site’s content also explains how ozone can be managed
and the precautions one should take if he or she is sensitive to poor air
quality.

At the top of the page is a link titled Ozone
Map, which takes users to a real-time map of the greater Houston area. On the
right hand side of the page is a color key reflecting ozone conditions (purple
representing “hazardous” and green indicating “good”). At the bottom left-hand
side of the Ozone Map page, users will find a field titled “Set Time/Place.”
Here, they can enter a specific Houston address where they wish to check air
quality levels. The address will then be marked on the map for future site visits.
Another field allows users to check past dates and times for air quality.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
provides the site’s air quality data. A team of UH faculty and staff directed
by Dan Price, professor in UH’s Honors College and philosophy department,
developed the site along with Air Alliance Houston and American Lung
Association staff. Other principal UH contributors include Barry Lefer,
associate professor of atmospheric science, and staff members from the
university’s Texas Learning and Computation Center.

“This site allows people to plan their day,”
Price said. “It can be used by anyone with health concerns about ozone
including educators who decide whether to hold school recesses outside or
coaches who determine when outdoor
practices are held. It can also benefit those living with respiratory illnesses
such as asthma.”

Price added that the site also can be used as a
resource for researchers or medical professionals to track air quality data for
epidemiological studies or other projects.